As your loved one ages, they may find their home has become too much for them. The kids have gone and the grandkids may come for short visits, but for the most part, your relative is now taking care of much more house than they need and paying more in utility costs than they need to pay. It may be the right time for them to downsize and go into a smaller home. If you are going to be helping your loved one look for their next home then there are some things you want to consider. Here are some of the things you want to go over with them and what to look for in a new home.

Do they want to live in a community?

If your loved one is open to it, they may really like living in a retirement community. They will be surrounded with others in the same stage of life. They will have resources available to them in that community and they can enjoy recreational activities with other residents. However, if they feel like this would be giving up too much of their independence, you may want to move on to finding them something else.

Would they like a condo?

Sometimes, condo living is the next best thing to a retirement community. Your elderly loved one will have neighbors nearby and they will have access to things like a business center, a pool, and a gym. The grounds will be maintained by the HOA, so they won't have to worry about the upkeep of the property and condos are generally more affordable than single-family residences.

Find them the right small residential property

If your elderly loved one is set on a residential property, make sure you find a real estate option in the right size and with a yard small enough it won't be too much for them. Also, try to look for one that already has certain features, such as a walk-in tub, ramps up outside stairs, and either only a single level or a stair lift.

Consider a rental apartment

If they aren't able to find the right place right now, let them know they can rent an apartment for the time being and then they will be able to purchase a place in the future if they still want to. However, this will give them time to really look around and decide on what it is they really want.